Automatic cut-off for cisterns.



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PATBNTBD JUNE 23, 190s.

C. S. GRINDBLL.

AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOR GISTERNS. APPLIo'ATIoN Hmm JULY s. 1902.

No MODEL.

r UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR CISTERNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,771, dated June 23, 1903.

Application iled July 3, 1902.

.To MZ whom it may concern:

y Be it known that I, CHARLES S. GEINDELL,

a citizen of theUnited States, residing `at tomatic Out-Oif for Oisterns, of which the fol#` lowing is a speciication.

The invention'relates to improvements in `automatic cut-ods for cisterns.

Theobject of the present invention is to improve the construction of cut-offs for cisi `terns and to provide a simple, inexpensive, y and efficient device designed to be connected with a rain-spout and adapted to conduct the first water from a roof into a waste-pipe and the succeedingwaterinto the cistern, and capable of ready adjustment .to control the automaticfoperation of the cut-off to prevent the dust and other accumulation washed from the roof from entering the cistern.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims heretoappended. I i In the drawings, Figure l is avertical longitudinal sectional view of an automatic cutr 1 off constructed` in accordance with this in- 1 vention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the guard or shield. Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. i r 1 1 designates a casing rectangular in crosssection and provided with a removable top or p cover 2, adapted to be taken off to afford access to the interior of the casing.l An inletpipe Sis connected with thetop of the casing at one end thereof and the bottom of the casing is provided with outlet-pipes 4 and 5, designed to communicate, respectively, with a cistern and with a waste-pipe. Within the i y casing is pivotally mounted an automatic cutoff 6, which is` substantially7 in' the form of a trough, being composed of a plate provided r with side flanges 7. The cut-olf is provided with a receptacle 9, arranged beneath it and having an inlet perforation or aperture 10 communicating with the receptacle and adapted to permit the rain-water to iiow into Serial No. 114,269. (No model.)

is located below the bottom of the trough, passes through the sides of the receptacle, but the pivot may be arrangedlin any other f5 desired manner. The receptacle is also provided with an outlet consisting of a short tube 11, extending through the bottom of the receptacle and projecting upward to within a short distance of the top of the same and located near the outer vend thereof, so that it will be at the lower end or bottom of the receptacle when the cut-off is swung downward to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. 65 The cutoff is provided with a longitudinal screw or threaded rod 12, located at the side of the pivot opposite that occupied by the receptacle and receiving an adjustable weight 13, which is adapted to be moved backward and forward on the rod to control the operation of the automatic cut-olf. When the water within the receptacle rises to a height suflicient to counterbalance the weight, the cut-od will be shifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and by varyingthe position of the weight the quantity of water necessary to shift the cut-off may be varied. When the cut-oif is shifted to the positionV shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, all of the raiir `water will be directed to the outlet leading to the cistern. The first water, containing the mud resulting from the dust or other accumulation washed from a roof, willbe directed into the discharge-pipe 5, which leads to the waste-pipe, and when the water becomes clean it will be directed into theicistern. The casing is provided lat its bottom with an inclined transverse flange 14, forming a stop for, the automatic cut-off and also serving as a walll 'to prevent the muddy water from flowing into the discharge-pipe 4. The threaded rod or screw, which is located beneath the cut-off, is supported by suitable brackets 15, arranged as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The wateris directed to the rear portion of the cut-off, which is arranged on supports 16 by means of a guard or shield 17 conforming to the coniiguration of the casingA and located above that portion of the pivoted cut-oif which carries the receptacle and adapted to prevent any sudden downpour of rain from acting directly upon the front portion of the cut-oif and the same. The transverse pivot-rod 8, vwhich swinging the same downward and entering the cistern. The guard or shield is composed of an end wall 18, side walls 19, and an inclined bottom 20, which directs the water to the inner or rear portion of the pivoted cutoff. This guard or shield is provided at its bottom with a slot or opening 21, and it has a central spout 22, extending across the slot or opening 21 and adapted to carry a portion of the water across the slot or opening 21. A certain portion of the water will pass through theslot or opening and fall upon the pivoted cutoff, and some of this water will pass through the perforation or aperture 10 and enter the receptacle. The receptacle will in this manner receive a percentage of the water, and when a sufficient quantity has accumulated in it the cut-off will be shifted. The first water flows over the rear end of the cut-off and escapes thro ugh the pipe 5, the transverse fiange 14 being sufcient to prevent any of this water from flowing into the pipe f1, which extends to the cistern. The guard or shield is provided at its upperedges with flanges 23, extending outward and engaging the upper edges of the sides and ends of the casing, whereby the said guard or shield is supported in position. After the cut-off has been shifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the force of the descending water contacting with the cut-off below the pivotal point will be sufficient to retain the cut-off in this from entering the cistern.

position until the rain ceases, and the water within the receptacle will be permitted to empty in rear of the flange 1+i.

The receptacle 10 is preferably provided at its bottom with an aperture 24, having a threaded ange and receiving a screw-cap, 25 adapted to be removed to permit the receptacle to be cleaned. The aperture 24 is located at the bottom of the receptacle adjacent to the short tube 11, and it will enable the mud accumulating within the receptacle to be readily removed.

The apparatus is provided with a strainer 26, located above the bottom of the guard or shield and connected at one end with the pivotally-mounted cut-off G and at the other end with the said guard or shield. This strainer, which may be constructedv of any suitable material, preferably consists of perforated sheet metal and is adapted. to be bent orI bowed upward when the pivoted cut-off is swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It then forms a perforated receptacle for leaves or other accumulation and will prevent the same After the pivoted cut-off has resumed its initial position any accumulation remaining on the strainer will be washed off and carried to the waste-pipe by the first portion of the next rain. The strainer is provided with opposite side flanges 27, which are divided and cut away at 28 to permit the strainer, which is preferably composed of two sections, hinged together at 2S), to swing upward, as before described. The

end of the strainer may be connected with the side flanges 7 in anyv suitable manner, but they are preferably provided with projections 30, arranged in slots 31 of the said flanges. This will permit sufficient play to allow the rear section of the strainer to swing upward.

It will be seen that the apparatus is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily connected with a rain-spout and cistern, and that it is adapted to direct the muddy water into the waste-pipe and is capable of automatically shifting to direct the clean water into the cistern after the muddy water has passed off and the water is clear. It will also be seen that the device is capable of adjustment to vary the quantity of water necessary for shifting the cut-off and to regulate the length of time required to effect such automatic shifting.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificin g any of the advantages of this invention.

1. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet opening, an approximately horizontal cut-off pivotally mounted between its ends within the casing and provided with a receptacle arranged to receive water to effect an automatic shifting of the cut-off, and a guard or shield located directly above one arm or portion of the cutoff and extending longitudinally of the saine and interposed between the same and the inlet-opening to prevent the flow of water from directly affecting the cut-off, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a pivoted cut-off having a receptacle, and a guard or shield arranged within v the casing above the cut-off and conforming to the configuration of the said casing and having an inclined bottom provided with an opening, said guard or shield being also provided with a spout extending across the opening, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a pivoted cut-off, a guard or shield and a strainer connected with the guard or shield and with the cut-off and movable with thelatter,substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a pivoted cut-off, and a strainer fixed at one portion and connected with the cut off and adapted to be bent or swung upward with the saine, substantiallyas described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a pivoted cut-off, a guard or shield, and a strainer fixed at one portion and connected with the pivoted cut off and provided at opposite sides with divided flanges, substantially as described.

6'. A device of thc class described compris IIG ing a casing, a pivoted cut-od arranged Within the casing and provided with a receptacle having means for gradually admitting Water thereto for automatically effecting the shifting of the cut-o, and a screen fixed at one portion and connected at the opposite portion y with the pivoted cut-o, and movable With the same and adaptedwhenthe cut-olf is tilted to form a receptacle to receive accumulation,

substantially as and for the purpose de# 1o scribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES S. GRINDELL.

Witnesses:

.Il E. SMITH, H. V. SPICER. 

